Nine years at Liverpool, two hundred and fifty-seven goals, and now, a new chapter in the Black Sea.
Mohamed Salah arrived in Turkey on Wednesday to scenes more fitting of a head of state than a footballer. Hundreds of fans mobbed Ataturk Airport in Istanbul as the Egyptian captain emerged wearing Trabzonspor colours, leading the crowd in the club’s traditional three-count chant before boarding a connecting flight to Trabzon. A formal signing ceremony has been scheduled for Thursday at 17:30 BST at Papara Park, where Trabzonspor have asked supporters to attend in the club’s new season shirts to witness what they are billing as a historic moment for the club.
Memorable Chapter at Liverpool Closed
Salah, 34, left Liverpool at the end of last season after nine years on Merseyside in which he scored 257 goals, claimed four Premier League Golden Boots, and won virtually every trophy the club had to offer. That list includes the Champions League, Premier League, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup, and EFL Cup. He was named PFA Player of the Year three times during his time in England.
His departure from Liverpool was not entirely smooth. Despite scoring 29 goals and providing 18 assists during Liverpool’s 2024-25 title-winning campaign, Salah’s playing time decreased in the following season amid a reported falling out with head coach Arne Slot. He had announced his intention to leave a full year before his contract extension ended.
Talks with fellow Turkish club Besiktas were reported but ultimately collapsed over finances. Trabzonspor moved swiftly to fill the gap, building anticipation on social media by posting a video of the Pyramids alongside images of Papara Park. They even shared live flight tracking of Salah’s journey into Istanbul, drawing even more fans to the airport.
Trabzonspor, nicknamed the Black Sea Storm, are one of only six clubs to have won the Turkish Super Lig. They finished third last season, eight points behind champions Galatasaray, and will play European football next term. If they fail to progress through the Europa League play-offs, they drop into the Conference League. As a free agent, Salah cost no transfer fee, allowing the club to concentrate resources on his wages. What those wages are has not been disclosed.
Salah’s arrival is by far the biggest signing in Trabzonspor’s history, surpassing the previous marquee additions of former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge and former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe. Their current squad also includes Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana on loan. Alongside Cape Verde’s World Cup standouts Wagner Pina and Sidny Lopes Cabral.
Trabzonspor lands a global football icon, and the Black Sea is ready.
READ ALSO: https://alo360.net/nigeria-egypt-wafcon-2026-quarter-finals/
